Former Tigers Jackson and Egnew perform well at NFL Combine

Former Missouri Tiger wide receiver Jerrell Jackson performed well at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, IN over the weekend, placing near the top in most of the drills for wide receivers. Tight end Michael Egnew showed off his jumping skills as well.

Jackson was the top wide receiver in bench press reps with 22 and he was also the top wide receiver to run the 60 yard shuttle. In fact, Jackson finished second overall in that event. Jackson was also 2nd overall in the vertical jump at 41 inches and fifth in the broad jump at 10’7’’. Jackson tied for the 10th fastest time in the 20 yard shuttle.

Egnew, at 6’5, used his big frame to turn in the best scores for tight ends in the vertical jump at 36″ and broad jump at 10’11”. NFL.com’s assessment as an NFL tight end for Egnew didn’t draw strong reviews. “Egnew has struggled blocking defensive linemen. It is tough for him to get a free release off the line when attached to a tackle, and he is much better working off the ball. He can be physically outplayed by some bigger linebackers and could have trouble playing on the line of scrimmage at the next level.”

As far as Jackson, NFL.com liked his hands and thinks he could play well in the slot position, which is where he may be best suited in the pros. “Jackson has to rely mostly on instincts to win routes early. If he doesn’t win off the line of scrimmage, he has a tough time separating at the top of routes and usually will only make the play if a good ball is put on him. He understands how to throttle down against zone coverage and is fairly aware of his surroundings, but he is not an explosive playmaker and could easily get “washed out” at the next level unless he is thrusted into a favorable situation.”